Page 58 of Thresholds

"I'm probably the last person you want to see," Stremmel said as he steered Will toward the nurses and residents waiting inside the doors with agurney

"Too right," Willreplied.

"We don't have time to argue about it, Will," I said as the automatic doors whooshed open. "I wouldn't have called Stremmel if I didn't trusthim."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Will grumbled. He set Shannon on the gurney, and we jogged toward an enclosed treatmentroom.

"It's worth noting that I've delivered hundreds of babies," I added. "I know what I'm doing. Between me and Stremmel, we've got thiscovered."

The team descended on Shannon, running intravenous lines and securing a fetal heart monitor while Judy coached her through anothercontraction.

"I'm having trouble believing that you and"—he pointed at Stremmel—"this fucking guy are our options right now. In this entire hospital, the best options are the guy who tried to pick up my wife last night andyou?"

"Fully dilated," the resident announced. "Fullyeffaced."

"What did I do?" I asked, snapping on a pair ofgloves.

"I don't know but I'm not happy about it," Willreplied.

"I know you're having a dude standoff and it would be thoroughly entertaining on any other occasion," Shannon said. "But I need to push and if you don't shut up, I will castrate every last one of you and then carry your balls in a pretty littlejar."

"You heard her," Stremmel said as a nurse helped him into a surgical gown. "This is Shannon's show. If you can't follow her rules, I'll have you removed." He turned to Shannon. "It's time to meet yourbaby."

Itoreoff my surgical gown and dropped it in the soiled linens bin before heading toward the waiting room. Everyone was there, and they were fighting over desserts. A small table was covered with an assortment of goodies, and Andy was loading up paper plates to appease the grabby hands aroundher.

Erin, my little lovely, was picking at a brownie while Matt and Patrick carried on an animated conversation beside her. I watched for a minute, smiling when she sensed my gaze and glanced up. I beckoned her closer, needing a moment with her before sharing the good news witheveryone.

She handed her plate to Patrick—who went on arguing with Matt while demolishing the brownie—and moved toward me. We ducked around the corner, out of sight. I wrapped my arms around her and pressed my lips to her forehead as she melted intome.

"Is she all right?" Erinasked.

"Mother and baby are doing well," I said. "I'm still a little rattled. There were a few minutes where I thought we'd meet her on the TobinBridge."

"How's Will? Did he survive the ordeal?" she asked around alaugh.

"It was touch-and-go with him," I replied, "especially when he realized Stremmel was handling the delivery. He's resting comfortably now and Stremmel is relativelyunscathed."

Erin ran her hands up my flanks and over my shoulders, and I responded by backing her further into the corner. "Can I tell you a secret?" she whispered, glancing up at me with those green green greeneyes.

I flattened my hands on wall and ducked down to kiss her. She tasted like chocolate and secrets, and I ached for her. With my lips brushing the corner of her mouth, I whispered, "Always."

"I want to make some changes," she said, dipping her chin as shespoke.

My lips found hers again and I murmured, "Okay."

"I want to travel less frequently," shecontinued.

"Okay," I repeated. "I won't fight you onthat."

"And I want a baby," sheadded.

Without conscious thought, I shifted closer, trapping her hips against mine. My heart was in my throat and it took a full minute to find words. "In theory?" I asked. "Orpractice?"

"Practice," she replied, the word breaking into a moan as I rocked against her. "Not right now. Nottonight."

"If not tonight," I teased, "tomorrow?"

She squeezed my shoulders and I was half hard. "Maybe in the next year, or the yearafter."